All aboard for a history of America's trains! The hissing steam, billowing smoke, and sleek steel engine of the train have long captured the imagination. In this informative book, a young boy looks back through time to give a guided tour of his family's history on the railroad. Each generation is introduced by a detailed illustration of a train of the era. Facts and anecdotes about trains and the people who make them run follow each showcased locomotive. Discover how steam engines work, learn why a brakeman's job is so dangerous, and even witness a train robbery in this tribute to that nostalgic, enduring, and fascinating mode of transportation--the train.